Pradels, Adrien (2026) Ould Dah v. France. Analysis of a Request Dismissed by the European Court of Human Rights: Seeking an Extension of French Universal Jurisdiction. European Horizons Toulouse. [Caselaw headnote]

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Abstract

One of the conclusions of the case Attorney-General of the Government of Israel v Adolf Eichmann was the following: “It is the universal character of the crimes in question: international crimes which vests in every State the authority to try and punish those who participated in their commission”. One of the modern illustrations of this principle is the universal jurisdiction of the French courts, which transcends the national sovereignty of the French State. Indeed, it grants to the latter the power to prosecute an individual without any direct connection with him, who had, according to Grotius, “excessively violate[d] the law [...] of nations with respect to anyone”.

[Ould Dah v France, No. 13113/03 (ECtHR, 17 March 2009)]